U2's St. Louis concert cancelled

U2 and Live Nation have cancelled Saturday’s concert at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, citing security concerns.

“We have been informed by the St. Louis Police Department that they are not in a position to provide the standard protection for our audience as would be expected for an event of this size,” said a statement posted to U2's website. "We have also been informed that local crowd security personnel would not be at full capacity. In light of this information, we cannot in good conscience risk our fans’ safety by proceeding with tonight’s concert. As much as we regret having to cancel, we feel it is the only acceptable course of action in the current environment."

Deeply saddened at what has happened in St. Louis and having to cancel our show tonight….I found myself reading Dr. King’s speech from the National Cathedral and asking myself is this 1968 or 2017? - Bono “Human progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability….we are coming to ask America to be true to the huge promissory note that it signed years ago. And we are coming to engage in dramatic nonviolent action, to call attention to the gulf between promise and fulfillment; to make the invisible visible.”

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Anyone who purchased tickets with a credit card will receive a refund on the card used to make the purchase. Purchases made in person can be made at the point-of-sale beginning at 10 a.m. Monday.

The cancellation comes on the heels of a night of civil unrest in St. Louis that saw 32 arrests, 11 officers injured, and businesses damaged in the Central West End.

U2 was the first of three high-profile entertainment acts to cancel shows in St. Louis this weekend. Comedian Mike Birbiglia cancelled his show at The Pageant, and Ed Sheeran cancelled his concert at Scottrade Center.